Reversing starter means for internal combustion engines



Feb. 9, 1932. G. w. CODRINGTON 1,844,543

REVERSING STARTER MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Jan. 19, 1931 INVENTOR 650005 N C'OD/W/VG 7'0/v Patented Feb. 9, 1932. i

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. CODRINGTON, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO REVERSING STARTER MEANS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed January 19, 1931. Serial No. 509,709.

This invention relates to starting means which comprise the invention parts appearfor reversing internal combustion engines. ing in section to show details of construction. Particularly in marine practice it becomes Vith reference now to the drawing, 1 is necessary that the propulsion engine be the flywheel of the engine to be controlled,

started and stopped in reverse in the shortest Which flywheel carries a gear 2 engageable possible time, and hence as conveniently as by either of a pair of pinions 3 and 4, which possible. It has been generally the practice pinions are slidably mounted upon a shaft 5. heretofore to accomplish such maneuvering The shaft 5 is mounted in suitable bearings control by air starting means, which, howindicated in the frame-housing 6.

ever, involves the use of a system of valve Secured upon the shaft 5 is a gear 7 meshsets such apparatus becoming more compliing with the pinion 7 On a shaft 8 which shaft gated as the multiplicity of engine cylinders is also mounted in the frame 6. Secured with I increases. It is more convenient, therefore, the frame 6 is a motor indicated at 9 having to start the engine in either direction by sima shaft 10 Which, if the motor be electric, may

ply putting its crank shaft in motion in the e he motor armature shaft. A flywheel 11 desired direction, and such a. procedure is of is e red upon the shaft 10. The shafts 8 increasing desirability as the cylinder muland 10 which may be aligned, extend within tiplicity increases. It is the object of this the box 12. Therein is provided reversing invention to provide starting means employgears and a pair of associated clutches;

20 i power f an ili h as an elecwhereby the shaft 8 may receive drive from tric motor which may be continuously driven the shaft 10 in either the same or reverse diduring the standby period and to apply this rection dependent upon the manipulation of power in a manner much more directly upon the clutches. The exact details of such arthe engine crank shaft. rangement are immaterial and the described Briefly the invention comprises the use of result may be accomplished in a number of the well-known Bendix type of drive, includways. For example, the well-known reversing pinions acting directly on the flywheel ing gear for interposition between the engine gear or other like engine part. The invenand propeller of a motor boat, would be suittien includes the employ nent of a. pair of able. Suffice it then to say that the revers- 30 such Bendix pinions, one left-hand and one ing gear provides that the shaft 10 operatright-hand, for selective engagement with ing in one direction may be caused to operate the gear, together with means providing for the shaft 8 in either direction subject to the instantaneous control of such optional encontrol of a lever 13. This lever may be argagement. More specifically the two pinions ranged for control by a handle 14 pivoted as according to this invention are mounted, in at 15, through a link 16. The handle 14 is, 55 aligned relation,uponacommon shaft, which of course, located in a position convenient shaft is reversible at the will of the operator to the engineer and is movable from its shown through suitable reversing gear and assoor central position wherein the shaft 8 is unciated clutch means, which in turn is drivdriven, to the left or right to cause the shaft en by the continuously running motor. 8 to be driven in corresponding ahead or The invention also includes the provision astern direction. 1 of inertia means rigidly associated with the The drive of each of the pinions 3, 4., from motor whereby the initial starting effort may the shaft 5, is by an arrangement well-known be increased by accumulated inertia. by the term Bendix. Thus this arrangement The exact nature of thisinvcntion together includes for the pinion 4' a helical mounting with further objects and advantages thereof of the pinion on the shaft so. that the pinion will be apparent from the following descripwill havemotion longitudinal of the shaft tion taken in connection with the accompanycoincident with rotational motion thereon. ing drawing which is a largely conventional A spring 17 .tendsto maintain the pinion 4 0 showing of the combination of elements in the position shown, clear of the gear 2 and rotational drive between pinion and shaft includes the spring 17 when the pinion is moving along the shaft. The helical connection includes a stop engaged by the pinion after shifting of the latter to mesh with the gear 2- so that the drive from shaft to pinion and hence from shaft to flywheel is positive whenrthe pinion is meshing with the gear '2, so long as the drive is in a direction tending to advance the pinion against the stop. As soon. however, as the engine starts, so th at'the flywheel tends to overrun the pinion in the 7 starting direction, the pinion movesback on its helix to the position shownwhere it is retained by the spring 17. Thus when'the shaft 5 is driven in one direction the-pinion twill move forward to engage the gear 2, but when the shaft 5 is moving in the opposite clirectionthere is no suchtendency. The teeth-of the pinion 1a are undercat'as indi-v cated to provide easy engagement with the gear 2 when the pinion is running in its starting direction/ 7 The opposite pinion 3 is similarly mounted upon the shaft 5 exceptthat the arrangement of its Bendix drive is such that it will engage the gear when the shaft 5 is driven in the opposite direction from that in which the pinion 4t engages the gear. Consequently the teeth of the pinion 3 are undercut oppositely from those of the pinion 4C and those of the gear 2 are undercut at both ends.

It will be apparent that when the motor '9 is operating the shaftilO, manipulation of the handle 14 will cause the shaft 5 to be driven in either direction to cause the correspondingone or the other of the pinions to engage the gear 2 and start the engine in the corresponding ahead or astern direction. By the described gearing between shafts hand 8, the shaft 5 moves with lesser speed but greater force than the shaft 8. In operation, before it is desired to start the engine in either direction, the motor 9 is started to set the shaft 10 in motion, building up energy in the flywheel 11'. Thereafter when the handle 14 is manipulated to'cause starting of the engine in either direction, the energy stored in the flywheel 11 becomes available in addition to that of the motor itself, to act upon the engine flywheel with starting effect in the desiredxdirection of the latter. 7 What I claim is: a

1. Starting means for a reversing internal combustionengine and comprising a motor, a pair of Bendix pinions respectivelyarranged for left and righthand starting en agement with thestarting gear of said engine, a drive between said motor and said pinions and including a reversing connection and associ ated clutch means for controlling said drive to cause either pinion to engagesaid gear without stopping said motor. I r

2. ;Starting means for a reversing internal combustion'engine and comprising a motor,

a pair of aligned Bendix pinions respectively arranged for left and right hand starting,

a pair of Bendix pinions respectively arranged for left and right handstartingengagement with the starting gear ofsald englne, a drive between said motor and said pinions and including a reversing conn 0- tion and associatedclutch means for controlling said drive to cause either pinion to engage said gear without stopping said motor,

and fiywheelmeans arranged in said drive between-said motor and said clutch-means.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflixmy signature. GEORGE W. CODRINGTON.

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